The Pakistan Cricket Board has officially released the schedule and squad combinations for the upcoming Presidents Trophy Grade I competition. Serving as the first red ball tournament of the 2026-27 domestic cricket season, the event is scheduled to begin on September 12.
A total of 28 four day matches will be played across the single league round robin stage where each team will play 7 matches, leading up to a five day final starting on October 24. The top two teams in the league stage will compete in the final. A standout feature of the squad announcements is the heavy presence of Karachi region players distributed across the competing departments.
The eight participating teams locking horns this season are Ghani Glass, Khan Research Laboratories, Kingsmen Academy, Markhor Information Technology Solutions, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Pakistan Television, State Bank of Pakistan, and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited. Among these competitors, Markhor IT Solutions and Kingsmen Academy will both be making their first class debuts in this tournament. The two teams earned their promotions after a successful run in the lower tier, where Markhor IT Solutions finished as the winners and Kingsmen Academy secured the runners up spot in the Presidents Trophy Grade II competition.
Kingsmen Academy houses the largest contingent of Karachi based talent for this edition. Their star studded squad includes experience of Saud Shakeel, top order batsman Saim Ayub, left arm pacer Mir Hamza, and aggressive batsman Usman Khan. They are well supported by local players Habibullah, Saad Ali, and Muhammad Umar, making the newly promoted academy one of the most formidable units in the competition.
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited also boasts significant strength from the coastal city. Former Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood will lead the side, which features stylish top order batsman Omair Bin Yousuf and promising young wicketkeeper Saad Baig.
State Bank of Pakistan has entrusted the captaincy to Karachi wicketkeeper batsman Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, who will lead a squad that also includes local players Abdullah Fazal who finished as a leading run scorer last season for SBP and middle order Haroon Arshad and Rameez Aziz. Meanwhile, Khan Research Laboratories has integrated young prospects Hamza Sohail and Saqib Khan into their lineup. All rounder Danish Aziz will represent the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, and Muhammad Taha will showcase his skills for Pakistan Television.
The matches are scheduled to take place at venues across Abbottabad, Peshawar, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. The opening round starting September 12 will see Ghani Glass face Khan Research Laboratories, Markhor IT Solutions take on Kingsmen Academy, Pakistan Television play Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, and State Bank of Pakistan clash with Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited
